So, egoism is a desire. No matter how important it sounds, we are talking about a new world view.

“A world view is system of views on the objective world and man’s place in it, on man’s relation to the reality around him and himself, as well as a framework of people’s attitudes, beliefs, ideals, principles, knowledge, activity, and values, based on these views.” (Academic Dictionary)

Unfortunately, dictionaries are still “not familiar” with this worldview, so for the time being we will call it a concept. In any case, this concept or model is very promising and relevant. First of all, because it has never been refuted by anyone or anything despite the fact that, according to our resources, it is about 6000 years old.

This concept is often treated with suspicion or misunderstanding. The main reason is the lack of information.

Two facts indicate the relevance of this concept. Firstly, its full realization, no matter how strange it sounds, was originally scheduled for our time. Secondly, this concept explains many, if not all, of today’s problems.

Let’s see how this concept is revealed by its authors – Kabbalists.

The desire is the essence of creation, from the beginning to the end, the only “material” from which it is composed.

“All of the various created beings are merely different “portions” of the “desire to receive”. Moreover, all events that happen to them are the changes that happen to this “desire to receive.”(The Science of Kabbalah (Pticha))

First of all, it is necessary to make sure that we speak in the same language as the author. What is behind the words the “desire to receive”? What does the author mean by the word “creation”? Maybe it is something exotic or esoteric?

And yet, to remove the last doubts I would like to have something concrete.

“That force, the will to receive, is present in every element of reality, as we have explained above. Also, all four types: still, vegetative, animate and speaking emerged from them.” (Yehuda Ashlag “The Freedom”)

So, all that exists is that desire. Now we can move on, or rather, return to the very beginning. To those events that took place long before the famous Big Bang.[141389]

What kind of a secret are we talking about? It is an idea, expressed in just five words: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Any secret has a price. The price of this secret is anti-Semitism.

Anti-Semitism is not an accident or someone’s whim. It appeared simultaneously with the Jewish people, whose father, as everyone knows, was Abraham.

“A people, a nation, is like a tree which is born with its own shadow. The higher the tree, the longer its shadow. If you like, you may call it not a shadow but fate. The shadow of the Jewish people is prophecy-vision of the end of the days. The shadow of the Romans was fame, domination of foreign lands. The shadow of the Russians is anti-Semitism.” (Albert Einstein)

What is the relationship between the ethical principle of “Love thy neighbor as thyself” and anti-Semitism?

First of all, let’s look at things realistically. It is unlikely that someone other than the finished idealists believes that this ethical ideal corresponds to human nature. The latest world events confirm this once again. We know this; this is what is happening before our eyes. In fact, the world is at a dead end.

And yet, imagine for a moment that someone in some unimaginable way has managed to conform to this principle. What will happen then? Then, there would be hope that everything could be different. And this is important. Then, we would have the confidence that it is possible to treat everyone nicely, and everyone will treat everyone else in the same way. Then, violence and cruelty would disappear. Then, nations would become friends and live in peace. Hunger and poverty would vanish…

But it is a utopia, everyone would say, and they would be right. It is not possible today, and it was not possible yesterday. And yet, human history has one exception to this rule—the people of Abraham.[141621]

Question: By nullifying himself a person must nullify his ego, transforming his essence. But terrible fear appears in me: If the physical ego disappears, what will be left? Does spirituality blur and obscure then?

Answer: This is a very good and genuine feeling. If you feel this way, it is a sign that what is appearing in you is the correct impression of how much you are a primitive, small, and simple egoist. And if the ego disappears, then what will be left? Not your “I” or anything?

All of the spiritual perspectives are found on the other side of the ego. Through rejecting it, you will begin to feel a new dimension.[141599]From the Convention In Sochi “Day Two” 7/14/14, Lesson 6

Question: If physical lust and greed take a person over, tearing this life apart and destroying it, and as it seems to him, spiritual life as well, how can the group influence this?

Answer: It is very difficult to contend with jealousy, sexual attraction, and other particular disturbances. It is desirable to transform these disturbances into positive desires.

How is it possible to do this? Try to make a connection like this in the family that will completely satisfy you; even though that “lust” may appear while studying Kabbalah, this arousal is not at all hormonal, rather it is much higher. But anyway, that is what must be done.

When you begin to learn more, realizing yourselves in connection with other people, you will gradually begin to feel that all of this is being given to you by the Creator. Ultimately our movement forward is based upon receiving all kinds of disturbances and using them correctly.

The disturbances seem physiological to us, but this is not so. You will never be able to calm them down or nullify them by any physical means but only through spiritual correction. It only seems to you that if you play them out until your senses are dulled, or what is called being “completely detached,” that this will help you. This won’t help!

Salvation is only through more rapid advancement in a group that will influence you so that no possibilities remain, not only to act but even to think about this. It is very important to place yourself in a framework like this so you won’t have the power or thought of carrying out these activities.[141596]From the Convention In Sochi “Day Two” 7/14/14, Lesson 6

Question: Why is it that when you begin to talk about the inclination towards love and bestowal the listener is fascinated?

Answer: It is because there are small portions of Light in our world with regard to this. If a person focuses on their frequency, he begins to feel them and is attracted to them. But before that he needs some psychological exercises that will eventually help him feel the Light.

Small portions of Light have a healing effect on a person and so he wants to feel the same way personally and in the family because there is nothing better for the body and the soul than the attribute of love and bestowal. By that a person gets rid of all the flaws. If we could teach people who have cancer about love and bestowal, we would discover that this is the medicine for them.

Comment: This is why I am a great admirer of this program that gives people small portions of Light. Although you repeat the words love and bestowal many times, it is as if a person hears it anew each time. It is a paradox that always amazes me. Although I have been hearing this for many years, I always have the feeling of something new.

Answer: This is mainly felt by people who really understand that there is nothing to look for anywhere else. This is where a special natural attribute is revealed.[141485]From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 2/25/14

It looks that we are at a dead end. On the one hand, humanity, even without realizing it completely, is uniting; on the other hand, it is not able to unite because it lacks altruism necessary for this purpose. For those, who still think that altruism can be taught, we offer to look at this:

“Altruism is a social condition in which the individual is completely absorbed by the group and does not have his own goals other than the goals of the group; performance of duty and adherence to group norms are considered to be the highest values.” (Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias)

What can we do? First of all, we shouldn’t be upset. We do not know how to approach altruism? Don’t be afraid. Let’s come from the other side. Let’s begin from something that is much closer and more understandable to us – from egoism because it is the flip side of altruism.

Egoism is one of the manifestations of individualism; opposite to altruism.

First of all, we, of course, we are interested in the nature of egoism, its essence.

Philosophers say that we are talking about the moral qualities inherent in the human being. Culture scientists say that egoism is behavior. Psychologists argue that values are hidden behind it. Other psychologists call it a tendency, and sexologists – a psychological state. In addition, political scientists agree with culture scientists, social scientists – with the first psychologists, and teachers – with social scientists. (Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias)

In general, there are as many opinions as there are dictionaries. At the same time, a certain attitude to these definitions is being developed. On the basis of these, it follows that egoism, of course, is a very serious thing, but – how to put this in simpler words? –not fatal and not necessary at all. That is, a person can have egoism and can have none.

However, there is a different, radical opinion that belongs to Richard Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist, the author of The Selfish Gene: